UConn, Villanova on to Final 4

Sunday

Mar 29, 2009 at 12:01 AM

As expected, two Big East teams made it to the Final Four on Saturday.

But Villanova made sure there were some surprises to be found in this year's tourney, as Scottie Reynolds made a half-court dash for the game-winning shot with 0.5 seconds left, leading the Wildcats over Pittsburgh 78-76 in the East Regional final and back to the Final Four for the first time since winning it all in 1985.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

As expected, two Big East teams made it to the Final Four on Saturday.

But Villanova made sure there were some surprises to be found in this year's tourney, as Scottie Reynolds made a half-court dash for the game-winning shot with 0.5 seconds left, leading the Wildcats over Pittsburgh 78-76 in the East Regional final and back to the Final Four for the first time since winning it all in 1985.

They joined UConn, an 82-75 winner over Missouri in the West Regional final.

While the Huskies' win over a plucky Missouri team was a highly watchable affair, the Villanova-Pitt game was an absolute classic.

With big bodies clogging the lane and 3-pointers clanging off the rim, the teams pushed and shoved their way through the first 35 minutes before they started making baskets and making plays. The lead changed 15 times — six of them in the last six minutes, before Pittsburgh's Levance Fields hit a pair of free throws with 5.5 seconds left to make it 76-all.

Reggie Redding, who threw the ball away trying a full-court pass on the previous inbounds play, got it to Dante Cunningham this time, and he dished it to Reynolds. The Villanova guard weaved his way into the lane for a falling-down floater in traffic.

The clock expired, and the Wildcats celebrated. But the officials immediately moved to put a half-second back on the clock.

Fields took the inbounds pass and launched a 65-footer that hit the backboard but then bounced harmlessly to the floor.

Dwayne Anderson scored 17 for the third-seeded Wildcats, who responded to Pittsburgh's physical play by sinking 22 of 23 free throws.

Villanova (30-7) will play the winner of the South Regional championship between North Carolina and Oklahoma. The Wildcats are the lowest-remaining seed in the NCAA tournament, though not quite as big an underdog as the eighth-seeded '85 team — the lowest seed ever to win it all.

Sam Young scored 28 and DeJuan Blair had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Pittsburgh (31-5), the first No. 1 seed to lose.

For UConn, it was 6-1 freshman Kemba Walker providing the difference, matching a career high with 23 points and helping the Huskies counter Missouri's pressure style.

"We took some bumps, we took some bruises, but here we are once again going to the Final Four, and I'm just elated," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said.

Among those banged up was 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet, who bloodied a finger on his right hand scrapping for a loose ball on the floor in the second half. The Big East co-player of the year finished with 13 rebounds but only five points and no blocks, and held a bandage to his hand after the game.

"I'm getting it checked out, but I should be good," Thabeet said.

A.J. Price added 18 points and was named most outstanding player of the West region. But the difference was Walker, who deftly handled the Tigers' pressure defense.

"I told him he grew up," Price said. "He played like a man among boys today."

When it ended, Calhoun made an exaggerated fist pump and the emotional Huskies (31-4) mobbed each other at center court.

"I can't lie to you, after the game I actually did cry," said Walker, who went 7-of-9 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the free throw line.

UConn kept their emotions in check when it counted, though, clinching the victory by making all 10 of their free throws in the final 1:02.

The Huskies are still in the hunt for their third national title — the first two went through regionals in Phoenix in 1999 and 2004.

"We do love coming out here," Calhoun said with a chuckle. "I'm buying a house. I'll come out here once every five years."

While the Huskies are headed for Detroit, the wait goes on for Missouri, which remains one of the top programs never to reach a Final Four.

Leo Lyons and Matt Lawrence each had 13 points for Missouri (31-7), which was long on heart but short on rebounds. UConn dominated the boards 47-32.

"Obviously, I hurt for our guys," Mizzou coach Mike Anderson said. "I thought I could get them to that magical place. Maybe we just ran out of time, a couple minutes."